Sponsored by the Gemological Institute of America
Cecilia Gardner to Step Down as JVC CEO
She aims, however, to retain her position as general counsel with the Jewelers Vigilance Committee, an organization she has been with for 18 1/2 years.

New York--Cecilia Gardner is slated to step down as president and CEO of the Jewelers Vigilance Committee next year, the organization announced Monday.
However, the formal federal prosecutor, who has been with the organization for 18 1/2 years, intends to stay on board as general counsel, emphasizing to National Jeweler that she is not retiring and plans to keep on practicing law, which she has done for 40 years.
Gardner, who also recently left her post as general counsel for the World Diamond Council, said she is just trying to “reorder my life in a way.”
JVC board President Steven Kaiser, of Kaiser Time, said Gardner first came to him back in November about her desire to step back from her role as president and CEO come 2017.
In February, the board tapped one of its members who works for a company that specializes in organizational reviews to conduct a review of the JVC and its functions--who does what and how it’s being done.
“Before we get a new head, we want to really review what we need,” he said.
He said the review should be completed by the organization’s next executive committee meeting, which is scheduled for mid-May. At that time, the board should have a plan for the future of the JVC, with Kaiser adding that they hope to retain Gardner as lead counsel.
The JVC currently has a total of six employees: Gardner; Senior Counsel Suzan Flamm (who, in an unrelated development, also is leaving the organization, though the timeline for her departure is unknown at this time); Jo-Ann Sperano, the mediation specialist and paralegal; Assistant General Counsel Sara Yood; Membership Services Director Jeff Mercado; and Karen Kovach, the organization’s director of marketing and development.
Kaiser said “hopefully” the organization will be able to add staff following the review, as the JVC’s role has grown alongside the increasing number of rules and regulations impacting the jewelry industry.
“We’re very optimistic going forward,” he said. “The JVC is on a roll. We’re increasing revenues every year.”
Gardner is the latest in the line of top-ranking women in the jewelry industry to announce that they are stepping back in the near future.
Dione Kenyon is set to retire as president of the Jewelers Board of Trade this year, while American Gem Society and AGS Laboratories CEO Ruth Batson is set to do the same in June 2017.
The Latest

Simon Wolf shares why the time was right to open a new office here, what he looks for in a retail partner, and why he loves U.S. consumers.

A third-generation jeweler, Ginsberg worked at his family’s store, Ginsberg Jewelers, from 1948 until his retirement in 2019.

The risk of laboratory-grown diamonds being falsely presented as natural diamonds presents a very significant danger to consumer trust.

The company failed to file its quarterly reports in a timely manner.


The organization also announced its board of directors.

Charms may be tiny but with their small size comes endless layering possibilities, from bracelets to necklaces and earrings.

Located in Valenza, the now 355,000-square-foot facility includes a new jewelry school that’s open to the public, Scuola Bulgari.

Paola Sasplugas, co-founder of the Barcelona-based jewelry brand, received the Fine Jewelry Award.

A platinum Zenith-powered Daytona commissioned in the late ‘90s will headline Sotheby’s Important Watches sale in Geneva next month.

The basketball stars wear men’s jewelry from the “Curb Chain” collection.

The Signet Jewelers-owned retailer wants to encourage younger shoppers to wear fine jewelry every day, not just on special occasions.

The 21 pieces, all from a private collector, will be offered at its Magnificent Jewels auction next month.

Lilian Raji answers a question from a reader who is looking to grow her jewelry business but has a limited marketing budget.

GCAL by Sarine created the new role to sharpen the company’s focus on strategic partnerships and scalable expansion.

The Indiana jeweler has acquired Scottsdale Fine Jewelers in Scottsdale, Arizona.

“Cartier: Design, Craft, and Legacy” opened earlier this month at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London.

Van Cott Jewelers in Vestal, New York, is hosting a going-out-of-business sale.

Industry veteran Samantha Larson has held leadership roles at Borsheims, McTeigue & McClelland, Stuller, and Long’s Jewelers.
The two organizations will hold the educational event together this fall in Mississippi.

The entrepreneur and “Shark Tank” star will share his top tips for success.

The Ukrainian brand’s new pendant is modeled after a traditional paska, a pastry often baked for Easter in Eastern European cultures.

The jeweler has announced a grand reopening for its recently remodeled location in Peoria, Illinois.

The “Strong Like Mom” campaign features moms who work at Tiffany & Co. and their children.

Interior designer Athena Calderone looked to decor from the 1920s and 1930s when crafting her first fine jewelry collection.

During a call about its full-year results, CEO Efraim Grinberg discussed how the company is approaching the uncertainty surrounding tariffs.